Wednesday, September 3, 2014

I am using the month of September to prepare for the upcoming holidays. Today was HALLOWEEN day!!!

Start with the drawing, add a DARK value for the sky and a light (watered down) value for the ground.

Shading, cast shadows and local color take the most time. Stars are lifted after the DARK sky is very dry.

Many of my students come in the week before a HOLIDAY and ask for a project that fits their needs...I am teaching them to work ahead and have fun doing it!!

FIRST, we brainstormed about trick or treaters that have knocked on our doors in the past.... ghosts, princesses, angels, devils, monsters , ballerinas, cowboys and cow girls.....and talked about what makes each one different....likes wings and shoes and crowns.

Most thought they wanted to do ghosts...thinking they would be the easiest. I had several sketches for them to look at, encouraging them to push themselves a bit.

I am pleased with all the results and look forward to seeing more ideas when they return.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

I recently meant two new business owners and they have requested watercolors of tulips....in August.

I love painting flowers but I am seasonal...inspired by what is blooming in my life at the moment, but ....hey....they are wanting tulips...I can do this!!!

First I looked for photos in my computer stash and I found a few. Tom suggested I google "tulips" but I like to work from my own photos. He said, "You'll find zillions of them there!!!!" I just glared at him for a few seconds and he walked away.

Second I opened the old shoe box marked FLOWERS and found several photos I had taken in past years. I really like the feel of photo references in my hands....and these dog eared 4 x 6's were inspiring to a point.....most I had already used over the years for lessons and paintings that had long since found a home on some one's wall.

Frustrated, I sat there at the drawing table for a few more minutes, and thought....what would I tell my students to do? I realized that I knew evnough about tulips to design a few composition.

A few? HA!! I now have 13compositions I like and may paint every one of the ideas!

Which one do you like???? I will tell you my favorites later and post paintings!!!

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

I taught one of my favorite lessons today to my watercolor students, showing transparent, clear glass. No one really wants a painting of a little glass jar with a pencil sticking out of it but it's a great teaching/learning exercise and it went well for all. I hope they all go home and try it again.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

I have been busy working on many projects that were surprises for clients and friends making it impossible to post the images. All gifts and surprises have taken place so I am going to share!

As a quilter, I had to learn terms that we new to me ... I had never heard of a FAT QUARTER but as I became fascinated with piecing and designing with fabric the term rolled freely off my tongue. Shopping for yardage and notions are addictive and picking up a fat quarter or two is like adding a little gem to my stash.

But, of course, I can not give up my drawing and painting so the creation of the Fat Quarter Fairies came easily to me in the studio, first as gifts for friends and then as note cards for others to enjoy!

Each FQ Fairy is small in size and sits on a stack of fat quarter fabrics tied in a neat bundle. She is dressed in fabric that is fluffy and frilly, always wears stripped leggins and so far, they are all so full of love that their bust sizes are large, even for a little creature.

Manatee

Wall Mural

Complete!

Getting into the darks.

By adding a deeper value the images are starting to look three dimensional.

Staring the border.

I love altered edges and the rug will be the perfect place for the " Lazy S" I teach to all my students.

Anothers day's work....

can you see the difference?

Second Day

All four sides have the base coat painted.

Four corners ....

First step of many to follow.

Before ....

Homeownwer, Tom, prepared the floor!

Large Swags

were need to fill the area on the long side of the rug.

Small Swags

Original stencil works well on the small end of the rug.

Ribbons and bows

All the practice makes it look so easy!

A new stencil ....

to fit the size of the rug.

Black and White

This is my Black and White Mixed Media Collage.

For the Birds

Love is for everyone ... even these cozy love birds!

Bear Love

Big or small - we all love to get and get Valentine Hearts!

Valentine's Day Trio!

Getting Geared Up for Valentine's Day!

Be Mine!

Who can resist this cute little bear?

Happy Holidays to YOU!

Five more days till Christmas!!!!

Snowflakes!

Small Watercolor Snowflakes turn acrylic refridgerator magnets into works of art!

Paper Snowflakes!

Fun (and challenging) to cut, paint and be inspired by!

Dark blue ...

background for snowflake by Bobbie.

Red violet ....

background for snowflake by Deb.

My wreath!

This is the wreath I created for our front porch wall.

Close Up

The bow has little snowmen on it ... imagine that!

Abstract

There is something about this photo that inspires me to paint an abstract ,,, when I do, I will post it too.

Friends ...

helping each other make their snowmen!

Snowmen ...

the most favorite ornament class!

Teacup

with just a hint of gold ... warms the heart.

Poinsettia

This is the demonstration I did for my sudents today in the watercolor Workshop!

Deb ...

found a style that she was comfortable with.

Hilary ...

felt like it was a break through day.

Linda ...

came for the support and left with a great start.

Bobbie ...

good start ... but she was in the same car as Linda!

Poinsettia #1

This is the first of many poinsettias I hope to be painting in the near future!

Under the mistletoe!

Can you feel the love????

Happy Turkey Day ...

what ever your menu!

Cookies!

Chocolate times three!

Booth at the Bazaar

See anything you want????

Paper Stars !!!!

I love stars ....I will be offering a class to create a star ornament on December 3rd.

Paper Stars

This is the basic star that came from Green Post.

Workshop Painting

Inspiration

and fresh first wash!

Finshed

with many layers.

Some people like circles...

.... some like triangles!!!!

Shapes you like...

bring out the design you like.

Watercolor

brings out the best!

Different Image

Same Lesson

Paper Stars!

I have my studio set up to finish dressing them out!

Paper Stars

These and more like them will be on sale at the Bloomington Craft Show Nov 7th and in the Pear Tree!

Paper Stars!!!

So many ideas!!!

Little details ....

are what make the painting fun to look at over and over!

Can anyone....

ever have too many snowpeople around????

Before the darks.....

the images lack the pop to make them POP!!!

FINISHED!

Ready for the Craft Show and a new home!!!

Morning Glow

This ivy grows on my porch and the color is spectacular!

Have you every painting with wax?

Neither had I, until today!

Close up

Red Flowers with the damage.

Results!

Mary was watching over my shoulder!

Damaged encaustic painting.

Improper handling caused deep gouges to a favorite piece.

Maple Leaves!

These are the bright yellow maple leaves that scatter themsevles so wonderfully on our black driveway every Autumn!

Leaf Lesson - Bold Approach!

Jim successfully tires composition of three leaves!

Leaf Lession - Add some color!

Graphite or colored pencil - leaves are great subjects!

Autumn Moon

Original Watercolor by Teri

Leaf Lesson - just getting started!

Drawing with great detail and value takes time ... so we will see the results next week!

Leaf Lession - Negative and Postive!

I like all the different looks from my students.

Leaf Lesson - Thinking outside the box ...

or in this case, without the design box ... no pressure ... do it your own way!!!!

Gears -

no one has guessed what the Inspiration for this is ....

Poppies Step #2

Poppies

Final

Poppies

30 x 30 approach to a favorite subject!

Poppies Day #3

I decided to drag the white down into the lower part of the painting.

Jill and I in front of the 6 panel abstract.

Join us on Sept 4th or view the art during the month of September.

Can you guess?

What do you think the inpsiration was for this painting?

Gears #2

Gears Day #3

I cleaned up some of the edges and worked out the design in the center. Still a bit more to do on this one, too.

Gears Day #3

Added simplified shapes in the center area.

Beginnings #1

Day one of a creative buzz!

Step #2

Step #3

Pouring

Early in the day ... still had my doubts...

Pouring

Jumped right into this and I believe I will like it .... need to let it dry and look at it in the AM.

Yuma Skull

This lonely "creature" rests in my family's Yuma AZ backyard!

Yuma Skull #1

After drawing, add a negative wash of muted blues and earth tones.

Yuma Skull #2

Allow paint to dry, add a second muted wash, this time allowing the horns and rocks to appear.

Yuma Skull #3

Continue to dry and build subtle layers of the same muted colors.

Great start to a new week!

Sunflowers and Students on a gray Monday!

We giggled and had fun - each producing our own unique style of a single sunflower.

Layers!

Layers of color tie it all together!

Alex' sunflower.

Lots of YELLOW!

Lynn's sunflower.

Soft touch.

Belle Sinclair Award

Thank you and congratulations to those I am passing it on to.

Tree

Fun Project - crayons, graphite, paper collage and color pencil!

Close up of the finihsed piece.

May still need just a few more ... what do you think?

Earlier photo

I cold have stopped here!

Close up - early in the day.

I could have stopped here....

Tiger Lily - Sign of summer!!!

I think these colorful lilies should bloom around Halloween!

Close up!

I love to show the subtle colors in my work.

Carousel Print

This is a detailed watercolor of our wonderful Dentzel Carousel. (click on image for details)

4 Thumbnails

Four quick plans for In the Garden theme show.

Linda Gray

Be True to Yourself!

Linda Gray

Black White and Red

Not for the Faint of Heart!

Cut it sew it paint it bead it cut it some more and sew it all together!

Close up

Tree Series

Orchid Like Bloom

What a little gem of a flower ... last only a day.

Natural Beauty!

My friend's koi were camera shy - played coy!

Favorite

This is a favorite lily.

Zinnia

Many of my students are working with watercolor pencils to create this multi-petalled flower.

Sunflower Beauty!

This wonderful photo was taken right in my own backyard!!

My backyard!

This is the early morning view of our back yard. Notice the long shadows?

Fish!

These little fish are now swiming around my studio!!

Fish #2

Another cutie!

Loss of Limb ....

This majestic maple gave up a limb.

Sad to see this happen.

How old is this tree?

Spring Tree

This is a warm painting using complemenatry colors yellow and violet for a glow!

Iris Study - 1

This is the first image I posted.

Iris Study - 2

This is the improved image I posted.

Yellow Iris Trio

Thought about naming this the "three amigoes", still needs a few finishing details. Have to get away from it for a while.

Don Andrews

Master watercolor artist looks over his demonstration painting.

Stones

Round, weathered from years in the field or in the water.

Flagstone.

Cut from the quarry, straight lines.

Brick

Man made.

Flowers on a stone wall.

Color pencil drawing.

Close up

Very impressionistic, implied but not detailed,

Clouds

I have a great view of the landscape on my way home in the evening and the clouds can be very dramatic. Who put this water tower in the smack dab center! (OH, Man!)

More Clouds

I am going to create a painting based on this photo. I give you all permission to use this photo for your own image and we will see what we all come up with! I will post and link your images for everyone to see the inspirational work! Have fun!

Poppy #3

This is the early stages of the third Poppy painting.

a little bit more work

more

thought about stopping here.....

tadaaaaa!!!!!!

In the zone!

Here I am, facing the canvas and adding more paint to the canvas, later given away to the lucky ticket holder, Charlie.

Painting to the Music - 2009

This is the original acrylic abstract painting that I created at the Jazz Fest while I listened to the music of the area high school students play under the direction of Tim Miller.